First downtown Merchants Garage Sale this weekend

Published: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 7:22 p.m.

Participating shops will offer special bargains during normal business hours this weekend for downtown Hendersonville’s first Merchants Garage Sale.

“A garage sale always carries that aura of mystery and potential bargains,” said organizer Marie Lachance, owner of Nonesuch House & Home at 234 N. Main St. Merchants are hoping to cash in on that magnetic allure with their own garage sale Friday through Sunday.

More than half of the downtown merchants seem to be participating in the event, Lachance said. The shops will be designated with a classic “Garage Sale” sign and an orange, red and yellow flier, she added. Prices will be slashed to move troubled-sellers out of their inventory.

“It’s a promotion to get people interested in shopping downtown and to bring some of our local people to come and see the new shops” available here, she said.

To fight the winter blues and doldrums of a seasonal slowdown, Lachance said she was pondering marketing ploys that would excite people into coming downtown when she thought of a garage sale.

“You always see these little signs on the side of the road for ‘Garage Sale’ and ‘Estate Sale,’” she said, “and you’ve got to go look.”

Lechance decided to harness that pull to stimulate interest downtown.

“There are so many new shops, so many fresh ideas here,” she said, adding that a lot of locals may not know what they’re missing.

If all goes well, she hopes to turn the garage sale into an annual event.

“We all have little things that may not sell as quickly as we like them to,” she said, adding this will give merchants a chance to move that stubborn merchandise and “offer people an opportunity to score a bargain.

“Come see what we have. Come see what we do,” she added. “We’re your friends and neighbors.”

<p>Participating shops will offer special bargains during normal business hours this weekend for downtown Hendersonville's first Merchants Garage Sale.</p><p>“A garage sale always carries that aura of mystery and potential bargains,” said organizer Marie Lachance, owner of Nonesuch House & Home at 234 N. Main St. Merchants are hoping to cash in on that magnetic allure with their own garage sale Friday through Sunday.</p><p>More than half of the downtown merchants seem to be participating in the event, Lachance said. The shops will be designated with a classic “Garage Sale” sign and an orange, red and yellow flier, she added. Prices will be slashed to move troubled-sellers out of their inventory. </p><p>“It's a promotion to get people interested in shopping downtown and to bring some of our local people to come and see the new shops” available here, she said. </p><p>To fight the winter blues and doldrums of a seasonal slowdown, Lachance said she was pondering marketing ploys that would excite people into coming downtown when she thought of a garage sale.</p><p>“You always see these little signs on the side of the road for 'Garage Sale' and 'Estate Sale,'” she said, “and you've got to go look.” </p><p>Lechance decided to harness that pull to stimulate interest downtown. </p><p>“There are so many new shops, so many fresh ideas here,” she said, adding that a lot of locals may not know what they're missing.</p><p>If all goes well, she hopes to turn the garage sale into an annual event. </p><p>“We all have little things that may not sell as quickly as we like them to,” she said, adding this will give merchants a chance to move that stubborn merchandise and “offer people an opportunity to score a bargain.</p><p>“Come see what we have. Come see what we do,” she added. “We're your friends and neighbors.”</p><p>Shops are typically open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>